Perske speaks to highlights, Sartell plans in annual address

Sartell Mayor Joe Perske gave his state of the city address Tuesday at City Hall. Perske talked about the accomplishments of the past year and plans for the future of the city.
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SARTELL – Calling Sartell the area community of choice, Mayor Joe Perske said the city had a great year in 2013 with lots to look forward to this year.

Perske gave his state of the city address Tuesday at City Hall. He highlighted Sartell’s successes in 2013, among them the city’s 71 new homes built in 2013, accounting for 40 percent of homes built in the St. Cloud area.

“Sartell remains the community of choice,” Perske said.

The baseball fields at Pinecone Central Park also opened and hundreds of people participated in games on them, he said. This year, the multiple-use fields are expected to be ready for lacrosse and soccer games.

He said he’s hoping Star of the North Games can use the fields for its events. And this summer, there are plans for music and movies in the park.

Perske also highlighted the amount of park land Sartell added. The city purchased an additional 38 acres for Pinecone Central Park and 47 acres to create a new park along the Sauk River, south of Stearns County Road 120.

The new park is near a commercial hub, but it is quiet and pristine near the river, he said.

“That is going to be a tremendous asset for many, many generations to come,” Perske said.

The city is also looking to extend Fourth Avenue to the south, which will help to alleviate traffic on Riverside Avenue and give emergency vehicles easier access to the medical parks on Stearns County Road 120.

Perske became emotional while speaking about the paper mill that is now being torn down. The city expects a development plan in the next month and hopes the hydroelectric plant is operational soon.